Overload protection for control units in communications networks

Abstract

Control units, such as e.g. gatekeepers, which operate according to the H.323 standard are protected against H.225 signalling overload by the denial of call requests that have no prospect of success according to the H.323 protocol specifications. This preferably occurs during the initial exchange of messages, which are configured according to RAS protocol specifications.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method for overload protection of a control unit of a packet-oriented communications network, comprising a plurality of disjunct classes defined by threshold values formed by taking into account a predefined maximum load of the control unit, the method comprising: 
 recording the current load of the control unit by counting defined events;    comparing the current load with at least one of the threshold values; and    reducing the load of the control unit using a suitable mechanism when at least one of the threshold values is exceeded, the mechanism for each class being formed as a homogeneous suitable action.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the events are arrivals of messages.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the threshold values are formed by taking into account the maximum number of messages which can be processed without overload.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the suitable action is structured as non-processing of at least one message.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein a number of messages specified on a percentage basis is not processed.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the nearer the current load comes to the predefined maximum load of the control unit, the more messages are not processed.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the threshold values and/or the suitable actions are optionally fixed or freely administered.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the current load is recorded cyclically in predefined time units.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the messages are requests for admission of transmissions in the communications network.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the non-processing of the message is performed as rejection of the message.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the suitable action is structured as non-processing of at least one message.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the nearer the current load comes to the predefined maximum load of the control unit, the more messages are not processed.  
     
     
         25 . A computer program product, comprising software code sections to perform a method for overload protection of a control unit of a packet-oriented communications network, the network comprising a plurality of disjunct classes defined by threshold values formed by taking into account a predefined maximum load of the control unit, the method comprising: 
 recording the current load of the control unit by counting defined events;    comparing the current load with at least one of the threshold values; and    reducing the load of the control unit using a suitable mechanism when at least one of the threshold values is exceeded, the mechanism for each class being formed as a homogeneous suitable action.    
     
     
         26 . A device for performing a method for overload protection of a control unit of a packet-oriented communications network, the network comprising a plurality of disjunct classes defined by threshold values formed by taking into account a predefined maximum load of the control unit, the method comprising: 
 recording the current load of the control unit by counting defined events;    comparing the current load with at least one of the threshold values; and    reducing the load of the control unit using a suitable mechanism when at least one of the threshold values is exceeded, the mechanism for each class being formed as a homogeneous suitable action.    
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 26 , wherein the device is a control unit or an end point.  
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 26 , wherein the device is part of a communications network.